Marion County Remembers

Remembering SSGT James Russell Trisler (Watson/Fairmont) November 27, 1910 - June 20, 1944* ---- * Note: June 20, 1944 seems to be the day that he was declared dead, rather than the day that he actually died ---- SSGT James Russell Trisler (service # 35275214) was born November 27, 1910 in Watson, West Virginia (Fairmont), the son of James L. and Laura (Howard) Trisler. James, who seems to have gone by his middle name, Lawson, was a coal miner (1910 census). By 1918, the family was living in Thornton, WV, about five miles outside of Grafton. Lawson was working as a brick setter for the Thornton Fire Brick Company when he completed his WWI draft card on September 12, 1918. Family records on Ancestry and Findagrave show that Lawson died in 1918, but I haven't been able to find a death certificate or grave marker reflecting that date. The findagrave page for Lawson's son, Carl , says that Lawson died of the Spanish Flu in the fall of 1918. The family remained in Thornton through J...

Remembering PVT Morris Harper "Jack" Hilghman, Jr (Fairmont) May 12, 1924 - June 9, 1944 ---- PVT Morris Harper "Jack" Hilghman, Jr was born May 12, 1924 in Fairmont, WV to Morris (Sr) and Helen (Nay) Hilghman. Their family (as of the 1920 census) lived at 1114 Fennimore Street, and Morris, Sr was a mechanic. Later, Morris started working as a draftsman for the Monongahela System (1930 Census) and the family moved to 425 Monroe Street, apt 4 (1939 City Directory). Jack attended Fairmont Senior High School, where he was a member of the Kl?ub (trivia club), Hi-life, and the basketball team. The caption accompanying his junior year photo in the 1942 yearbook reads: "Jack Hilghman: Killer or the Killer-Diller has an ambition to be a lawyer. Remember this when you're in trouble. Killer likes all sports. Kl?ub, Hi-Life and basketball make up his activities." On June 30, 1942 Jack registered for the draft. He was 5'7.5" and 160 lbs with brown hair, b...

Remembering SGT James Lionel Myers (Fairmont) March 29, 1919 - June 8, 1944 ---- "I do not know where he died, but one this is positive, he died a hero's death, because there isn't a man in France who doesn't respect the Paratroopers for their great achievements."   -Marion County resident PFC Thomas Blazek, who happened across his buddy "Jimmie's" grave in France (see bottom for full text) ---- SGT James Lionel "Jimmie" Myers was born March 29, 1919 in Fairmont, WV, the son of William and Grace (Shaferman) Myers.  William worked in the coal industry, as a foreman (1910 Census) and miner (1920 census). Unfortunately, William and James' brother, Herbert, died in the Jamison #8 mine disaster on January 14, 1926. The family moved to Fairmont by the time of the 1930 census, where James completed one year of high school at East Fairmont. James also entered into the coal industry, working as a trackman in the mines (1940 census). At that time...